Informatica Basics and Interview FAQs

Q1 What is Informatica Powercenter?

Ans Powercenter is a data integration software of Informatica Corporation which provides an environment that allows to load data into a centralized location such as data warehouse. Data can be extracted from multiple sources , can be transformed according to the business logic and can be loaded into files and relation targets. It has following components:
PowerCentre Domain
PowerCenter Repositiory
Administration Console
PowerCenter Client
Repository Service
Integration service
Web Services Hub
Data Analyzer
Metadata Manager
PowerCenter Repository Reports

Q2 What is Data Integration?

Ans Data Integration is the process of combining data residing at different sources and providing the user with a unified view of these data.

Q3 Explain PowerCenter Repository?

Ans Repository consist of database tables that store metadata. Metadata describes different types of objects , such as mappings or transformations , that you can create using PowerCenter Client tools. The interation service uses repository objects to extract , transform and load data. The repository also stores administrative information such as user names, passwords , permissions and previleges. When any task is performed through PowerCenter Client application such as creating users, analyzing sources , developing mapping or mapplets or creating workflows , Metadata is added to repository tables.

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Q4. What is a Mapping?

Ans A mapping is a set of source and target definitions linked by transformation objects that define the rules for data transformation. Mappings represent the data flow between sources and targets. When the Integration Service runs a session, it uses the instructions configured in the mapping to read, transform, and write data.

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Q5. What is a mapplet?

Ans A mapplet is a reusable object that contains a set of transformations and enables to reuse that transformation logic in multiple mappings.

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Q6. What is Transformation?

Ans Transformation is a repository object that generates,modifies or passes data.Transformations in a mapping represent the operations the Integration Service performs on the data. Data passes through transformation ports that are linked in a mapping or mapplet.

Q7. What are Mapping Parameters and Variables? Whats the difference between them?

Mapping parameters and variables are used to make mappings more flexible.

A mapping parameter represents a constant value that can be defined before running a session. It retains the same value throughout the session. Using a parameter file, this value can be changed for subsequent sessions.

A mapping variable represents a value that can change through sessions. The Integration Service saves the value of a mapping variable to the repository at the end of each successful run and uses that value in the next run of the session.

Q8 What happens when you do not group values in an aggregator transformation?

When the values are not grouped in aggregator transformation, Integration service returns 1 row for all input rows. It typically returns the last row of each group (or the last row recieved) with the result of the aggregation. However, if you specify a particular row to be returned (e.g through FIRST function), then that row is returned.

Q9 How does using sorted input improves the performance of Aggregator Transformation?

When sorted input is used, the Integration Service assumes that all data is sorted by group and it performs aggregate calculations as it reads rows for a group. It doesnot wait for the whole data and hence this reduces the amont of data cached during the session and improves session performance. While when unsorted input is used, Integration service waits for the whole data and only then performs aggregation.

Sorted Input should not be used when either of the following conditions are true:

•  The aggregate expression uses nested aggregate functions
•  The session uses incremental aggregation

Q10 How does a join in Joiner transformation different from normal SQL join?

The joiner transformation join can be done on hetrogeneous sources but SQL join can be done only on tables.

Q11 What are the criteria for deciding Master and Detail sources for a joiner transformation?

• The master pipeline ends at the joiner transformation while the detail pipeline continues to the target. So, accordingly the sources should be decided as master or detail
• For optimal performance, if an unsorted joiner transformation is used, then designate the source with fewer rows as the master source. During a session run, the joiner transformation compares each row of the master source against the detail source.
• For a sorted joiner transformation, designate the source with fewer duplicate key values as master.

Q12  Explain Informatica Domain, node and services

The PowerCenter domain is the fundamental administrative unit in PowerCenter. The domain supports the administration of the distributed services. A domain is a collection of nodes and services that you can group in folders based on administration ownership. A domain can run a single version of application services or multiple versions of application services. A domain that can run multiple versions of application services is called a mixed-version domain.

A node is the logical representation of a machine in a domain. One node in the domain acts as a gateway to receive service requests from clients and route them to the appropriate service and node. Services and processes run on nodes in a domain. The availability of a service or process on a node depends on how you configure the service and the node. A node can be a gateway node or a worker node. A gateway node is any node you configure to serve as a gateway for the domain. One node acts as the gateway at any given time. That node is called the master gateway. A gateway node can run application services, and it can serve as a master gateway node. The master gateway node is the entry point to the domain. The Service Manager on the master gateway node performs all domain operations on the master gateway node. The Service Managers running on other gateway nodes perform limited domain operations on those nodes.

Services for the domain include the Service Manager and a set of application services:

Service Manager. A service that manages all domain operations. It runs the application services and performs domain functions on each node in the domain. Some domain functions include authentication, authorization, and logging. When you start Informatica Services, you start the Service Manager

Application services. Services that represent PowerCenter server-based functionality, such as the Repository Service and the Integration Service. The application services that run on a node depend on the way you configure the services. In mixed-version domain, multiple versions of application services can run in the same domain. The Service Manager and application services control PowerCenter security. The Service Manager manages users and groups that can log in to PowerCenter applications and authenticates the users who log in to PowerCenter applications. The Service Manager and application services authorize user requests from PowerCenter applications.  The PowerCenter Administration Console consolidates the administrative tasks for domain objects such as services, nodes, licenses, and grids and for users, groups, and roles. You manage the domain and the security of the domain through the Administration Console.

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